IDOSR PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL ORGANIZATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ISSN: 2550-794x VITAMIN AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF ANNONA MURICATA Offor C. E 1., Abara P. N 2., Ugwu Okechukwu P.C 1., Ekpono 1 E. U., Aloke C 3 and Eneh, C. P 1. 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Biology Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State. ABSTRACT The vitamin and mineral compositions of Annona muricata leaves were determined using standard methods. The results revealed the presence of the following vitamins and their concentrations (mg/100g) as retinol (19:15±0.01), thiamine (2.15 ± 0.01), riboflavin (0.24 ±0.00), ascorbic acid (12.64 ± 0.01), calciferol (12.64±, 0.01) and pantothenic acid (1.82 ± 0.00). The mineral concentrations (mg/100g) of Annona muricata leaves recorded calcium (50.12 ± 0.14), sodium (93. 70 ± 0.00), phosphorus (0.31 ± 0.0 1), magnesium (15.14 ± 0.00), manganese (0.04 ± 0.00) and iron (0.89 ± 0.00). The results showed that the leaves contained relatively high concentrations of retinol, ascorbic acid, calciferol, calcium, and sodium with low concentrations of riboflavin, phosphorus, and iron. Keywords: Vitamin, Mineral and Annona muricata leaves INTRODUCTION Annona muricata fruit is very good for health. It is commonly called soursop. The nutrient content of most Annona muricata are carbohydrates. It contains lots of fiber. One type of 76
carbohydrate on its fruit is a reducing sugar (glucose and fructose). Fructose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) found in many foods and is one of three important blood sugars along with glucose and galactose [1]. The fruit tree is widely grown in the tropics of both tropical America and West Indies. It is grown in a wide range of soils with good drainage and elevations of up to 1000 meters. The leaves are glossy and oval in shape. The tree flowers and fruits all year round though there is usually a principal ripening season. The fruits are oval irregular, 15-30cm long [2]. Micronutrient malnutrition is a major public health problem. There is need for long term sustainable intervention programme that would reduce the deficiency. Food based approval especially dietary diversification could increase consumption of micronutrient rich locally available foods. A significant proportion of indigenous fruits in West Africa sub region are seasonal forest products, harvested for consumption on site or sale in urban centers. The availability of fruits is short lived due to seasonality and the perishable nature [2]. This work investigated the vitamin and mineral compositions of Annona muricata leaves. 77
Fig. 1: Annona muricata leaves [3]. MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials The leaves of Annona muricata were collected from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State in the month of September. The chemicals and reagents were of analytical grade. Methods The vitamin concentrations were determined by the methods of Okwu and Josiah (2006), [4], while the mineral concentrations were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. 78
CONCENTRATION (mg/100g) RESULTS 25 20 15 10 5 0 Retinol Thiamine Riboflavin Ascorbic Acid Calciferol Pantothenic Acid VITAMINS Fig. 2: A bar chart of the vitamins content (mg/100) of the leaves of Annona muricata 79
CONCENTRATION (mg/100g) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Calcium Sodium Phosphorus Magnesium Manganese Iron MINERALS Fig. 3: A bar chart of the mineral contents (mg/ 100g) of the leaves of Annona muricata DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The leaves of Annona muricata had vitamin concentrations in the order of magnitude as retinol > ascorbic acid and calciferol > pantothenic acid > thiamine > riboflavin (Fig. 2). Thiamine recorded the highest concentration, followed by retinol, ascorbic acid, and pantothenic acid as vitamin composition of Annona muricata leaves [4]. Gongronema latifolium leaves contained substantial concentrations of retinol and ascorbic acid [5]. Ascorbic acid is high enough in the leaves and is an excellent antioxidant to boost the immune system. The leaves of Annona muricata contained minerals in the order as sodium > calcium > magnesium >iron > phosphorus > 80
manganese (Fig. 3). The leaves of Annona muricata recorded high concentrations of magnesium and calcium [6]. Gongronema latifolium leaves also contained substantial amounts of trace elements that are useful for health. They include zinc, sodium, manganese, iron, phosphorus and high levels of potassium, magnesium and calcium [5]. Phosphorus and calcium are essential for the formation of bone mass that is useful to form strong bones and prevent osteoporosis [7]. In conclusion, the vitamin analysis of the leaves of Annona muricata showed that the leaves contained moderate amounts of retinol, ascorbic acid, calciferol, with lower levels of pantothenic acid and riboflavin. The mineral compositions also showed that the leaves contained significant concentrations of sodium and calcium with least concentration of manganese. REFERENCES 1. Nagy, S. and Shaw P. E. (2008). Tropical and subtropical fruit (composition properties and uses). Avi Publishing. INC. WestPoint, Connecticut. U S A. 375 406. 2. National Academy of Science (2008). Under exploited tropical plant with promising economic value, Washington DC, U S A. 3. Desumu, O. O., Oluwaniyi, O. O., Awololo, G. V. and Okunola, M. O. (2009). Stability studies and mineral concentration of some Nigerian package fruit juices and 81
local beverages. Africa Journal of Food Sciences, 3(3): 82 85. 4. Okwu, D. E. (2005). Phyochemical, vitamins and mineral content of two Nigeria medical plant. International Journal of Molecular Medicine and Advanced Sciences, 1: 275 381. 5. Offor,C.E., Agidi,J.U., Egwu,C.O., Ezeani, N and Ugwu, Okechukwu P.C. (2015). Vitamin and mineral contents of Gongronema latifolium leaves. World Journal of Medical Sciences, 12 (2): 189-191 6. Onwuka, G. I. (2005). Food analysis and instrumentation. Theory and practice. Naphthalic print, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. 7. Miller, A. and Schall, B. (2005). Domestication of a Mesoamerican cultivation fruit tree, Spondias purpurea. PNAS, 102: 1281 12806. 82